Seilala Mapusua

Seilala Mapusua
Birth name	Seilala J. Mapusua
Date of birth	27 February 1980 (age 44)
Place of birth	Moto’otua, Samoa
Height	180 cm (5 ft 11 in)
Weight	106 kg (16 st 10 lb; 234 lb)
School	Wesley College
Rugby union career
Position(s)
Position(s)	Centre
Senior career
Years	Team
1998	Counties Manukau
2000–2006	Otago
2006–2011	London Irish
2011–2014	Kubota Spears
2014–2016	Kamaishi Seawaves
Super Rugby
Years	Team
2002–2006	Highlanders
International career
Years	Team
2004–2008	Pacific Islanders
2006–2013	Samoa

Vaovasamanaia Seilala Mapusua (born 27 February 1980)^[1] is a retired Samoan rugby player who last played for the Kubota Spears of the Japanese Top League. Prior to his move to Japan in 2011, he also had long stints with the Highlanders in Super Rugby and London Irish in the Aviva Premiership. He is currently the head coach of Manu Samoa having been appointed in 2020.^[2]

Playing career

New Zealand

Mapusua was born in Moto’otua, Samoa,^[3] but grew up in Wellington, New Zealand^[4] and attended school at Wesley College in Auckland moving south to join Otago for the 2000 provincial season. His strong performances for Otago saw him earn a contract with the Highlanders for the 2002 Super 12 season and he remained a fixture for both Otago and the Highlanders through 2006. By the time he left New Zealand he was only the fifth back to have played more than 50 games for the Highlanders.

England

Mapusua joined London Irish for the 2006–07 Guinness Premiership, and immediately established himself as a top player for the side, scoring 4 tries in 22 matches. He was named the team's top newcomer for his efforts.

In 2008–09, he would have a towering season for London Irish, scoring 9 tries in 27 matches in all competitions and leading the club to the Premiership final. At the conclusion of the season he was named the PRA Players' Player of the Season.^[5]

He continued as a regular starter through 2011, and by the conclusion of his stay in London had played 125 games with the side^[6] including 91 Premiership matches and 23 Heineken Cup contests.

Japan

In January 2011, Mapusua announced that he was signing in Japan with the Kubota Spears for the 2011–12 season.^[7]

International Play

Mapusua made his debut for Samoa against Japan on 17 June 2006 and represented Samoa in the 2007 Rugby World Cup. He captained the squad for the 2011 Rugby World Cup.^[8] He has also been selected to the touring Pacific Islanders.^[9]^[10]